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"The Caturmasya period begins in the month of Ashadha (June-July) from the day of Ekadasi called Sayana-ekadasi, in the fortnight of the waxing moon. The period ends in the month of Kartika (October-November) on the Ekadasi day known as Utthana-ekadasi, in the fortnight of the waxing moon. This four-month period is known as Caturmasya. Some Vaishnavas also observe it from the full-moon day of Ashadha until the full-moon day of Kartika. That is also a period of four months. This period, calculated by the lunar months, is called Caturmasya, but others also observe Caturmasya according to the solar month from Sravana to Kartika. The whole period, either lunar or solar, takes place during the rainy season. Caturmasya should be observed by all sections of the population. It does not matter whether one is a grihastha or a sannyasi. The observance is obligatory for all asramas. The real purpose behind the vow taken during these four months is to minimize the quantity of sense gratification. T

The Supreme Lord Anantadeva Himself praises Haridasa Thakura, "Even Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva always desire to associate with such Devotees as Haridasa. And the demigods desire to touch the transcendental body of Haridasa. Simply by saying his name, Haridasa, one will be promoted to Krishna's abode." (Chaitanya Bhagavata). (In the image: Shrila Haridas Thakur).

   As Prahlada Maharaja appeared in a family of demons and Hanuman appeared as a monkey, Shri Haridasa Thakura appeared amongst the lower caste. Haridasa had a handsome form with all aristocratic features. Highly intellectual, he won all debates in Sanskrit and philosophy. Yet, he never lost his temper. In his youth, he became famous for his extreme devotion and ascetism. Though born in a Muslim family, when he became a Vaishnava, even brahmanas would eagerly smear their bodies with the dust of his feet.

   The Supreme Lord Anantadeva Himself praises Haridasa Thakura, "Even Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva always desire to associate wi

There are no indications that Gaudiya Vaisnavas perform any extra functions or austerities for this vrata. The fourteenth day in the bright fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada is known as anantana vrata.

The Lord Ananta Padmanabha is invoked in a pot filled with water and decorated with coconut and flowers. Special puja is celebrated with fourteen varieties of dishes. Of all the vratas assigned to caturdasi, the Anantacaturdasi-vrata (Bhadrapada sukla caturdasi) seems to be the most important and widely observed. It is also called ‘Anantapadmanabha-vrata’. Lord Visnu is believed to have appeared on this day as Padmanabha lying on the couch of Ananta (the thousand-hooded serpent).

- See more at: http://harekrishnacalendar.com/vaishnava-calendar/ananta-caturdasi-vrata-appearance-day-of-padmanabha-2013/#sthash.WcLl2gTy.dpuf

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura;  

To the Saragrahi Vaishnava, the temple has such thrilling charms which the ordinary Rationalist can never understand. We do not mean to say that Reason is a foolish principle. On the contrary we do not find better admirers of Reason than our humble selves. We hold that man's superiority amongst all created beings consist in man's possessing the noble gift of Reason.

What we maintain in this, that independent of this noble principle there is another higher gift in man which goes by the name of Love. Reason helps Love to maintain its proper bounds in the Spiritual world. Love often tends to degrade itself by exercising its functions on objects other than God and converts itself into lust for woman, wine, meat and gold. Here Reason advises her to rise higher till she reaches her proper sphere above. Thus we find that the object of Reason is to help Love and not to create it. Reason may be properly styled as the servant of Love and must always be sub

65 The demigods have effulgent and very powerful bodies. They are always worshipped by human beings. They are the actual object of Lord Visnu's mercy.

66 The demigods are sinless. They are situated in the mode of goodness. They never suffer. They are always happy. They are completely independent. They have the power to fulfill all the desires of their devotees.

67 Whenever they wish they can drink nectar that satisfies all their hunger and thirst and frees them from old-age, disease, death and all distress.

68 My lord, by the power of their great good fortune these demigods reside in Svargaloka. The human beings who reside in Bharata-varsa may enter that Svarga realm only by performing many pious deeds.

69 The most important of these demigods is Maharaja Indra. He has the power to reward or punish. It is he who nourishes the world with rain.

70 For 71 yugas he is the master of the three planetary systems. If a human king performs 100 asvamedha-yajnas he will not obtain such a post.

71

Sri Sacidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura appeared in 1838 in a wealthy family in the Nadia district, West Bengal. He revealed that he is an eternal associate of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu by his extraordinary preaching activities and prolific writing. Living as a, mahabhagavata Vaisnava, he stayed in the grhasta ashram until the last few years of his life. Then he renounced everything, accepted babaji, and entered samadhi, totally absorbed in the loving service of Gaura-Gadadhara and Radha-Madhava. "He had a responsible government position as the District Magistrate (high court judge), maintained a Krishna conscious family, and wrote almost one hundred books on Krishna consciousness. At the same time, he served the Supreme Lord in so many ways. That is the beauty of his life. After a full day of government service he would sleep four hours, get up at midnight and write until morning. That was his daily program." (Srila Prabhupada) Thakura Bhaktivinoda took Vaisnava diksa from Sri Vipinvihari

Sri Sanatana, Sri Rupa and Sri Vallabha were three brothers, all employed in the service of the Badshaw Hussain Shah. Amongst the three, there was only one descendent, Sri Jiva. Having been rewarded richly by the Badshaw for their sevices, their household life was very opulent. There was nothing lacking in whatever was necessary for the upbringing of the only son. The house was illuminated by the effulgence of the child's golden complexion; his eyes were like the expanded petals of the lotus; every part of his body was graced with a lusterous, radiant splendor.

When Sri Gaurasundara came to Ramakeli, Sri Jiva was blessed by having darshana of His worshipable lord, though he was just a baby at the time. Placing the dust of His lotus feet on the child's head, Mahaprabhu indicated him to be the future sovereign preceptor of the Gaudiya sampradaya. Though he was only a child, Sri Jiva kept the form of the Lord, which fascinates all the world, within his heart. As he grew up, while eati

Among all the beautiful gopis Srimati Radharani is the best. She is the topmost devotee of Lord Krishna. Srimati Radharani is the Supreme Goddess and the queen of Vrindavana.

Her name means that She is the most excellent worshiper of Lord Krishna.She has many famous friends, headed by Lalita and Vishakha. Her father is Vrishbhanu and Her mother is Kirtida Devi, who is also known by the name, Ratnagarbha Devi. Radharani's elder brother is Sridama and her younger sister is Ananga-manjari. Jatila-devi is Radharani's mother-in-law and Abhimanyu is Radharani's so-called husband. Kutila-devi is Radharani's sister-in-law. Srimati Radharani's worshipable deity is the sun-god.

Unknown ObjectSrimati Radharani is expert in all the fine arts and Her transcendental form is like an ocean of nectar. Her splendid bodily luster is like the yellow pigment gorocana, molten gold, or stationary lightning. She wears wonderfully beautiful blue garments and She is decorated with various pearls and flowers.he is

The beautiful gopis may be considered in hundreds of groups, each group containing hundreds of thousands of gopis. Aside from the eight varistha-gopas and the eight vara-gopis, sixty four gopis are considered most important. Their names are:

1. Ratnaprabha, 2. Ratikala, 3. Subhadra, 4. Ratika, 5. Sumukhi, 6. Dhanistha, 7. Kalahamsi, 8. Kalapini, 9. Madhavi, 10. Malati, 11. Candrarekha, 12. Kunjari, 13. Harini, 14. Capala, 15. Damni, 16. Surabhi, 17. Subhanana, 18. Kurangaksi, 19. Sucarita, 20. Mandali, 21. Manikundala, 22. Candrika, 23. Candralatika, 24. Pankajaksi, 25. Sumandira, 26. Rasalika, 27. Tilakini, 28. Sauraseni, 29. Sugandhika, 30. Ramani, 31. Kamanagari, 32. Nagari, 33. Nagavenika, 34. Manjumedha, 35. Sumadhura, 36. Sumadhya, 37. Madhureksana, 38. Tanumadhya, 39. Madhuspanda, 40. Gunacuda, 41. Varangada, 42. Tungabhadra, 43. Rasottunga, 44. Rangavati, 45. Susangata, 46. Citrarekha, 47. Vicitrangi, 48. Modini, 49. Madanalasa, 50. Kalakanthi, 51. Sasikala, 52. Kamala, 53. Ma

 Sita Thakurani lived in Shantipura as the eternal wife of Shri Advaita Acharya Prabhu. She was always absorbed in vatsalya-prema (paternal love) for Shri Gaurasundara. Just after Shri Chaitanya's appearance, Sita Thakurani came to Mayapur. She brought a basket full of dresses, ornaments, silken children's clothes, jeweled necklaces, and tiger nails set in gold. To worship the golden baby she also brought auspicious articles such as fresh grass, tumeric, kum kum, sandalwood. The wonderful name "Nimai" was given to the Lord by Sita Thakurani. 

Just after Shri Chaitanya's appearance, Sita Thakurani came to Mayapur. She brought a basket full of dresses, ornaments, silken children's clothes, jeweled necklaces, and tiger nails set in gold. To worship the golden baby she also brought auspicious articles such as fresh grass, tumeric, kum kum, sandalwood. The wonderful name "Nimai" was given to the Lord by Sita Thakurani. (In the wallpaper: Turmeric, Sandalwood powder, green grass and a child).

Ganapati Sloka

वक्रतुण्ड महाकाय सुर्यकोटि समप्रभ
निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा
Vakra-Tunndda Maha-Kaaya Surya-Kotti Samaprabha
Nirvighnam Kuru Me Deva Sarva-Kaaryessu Sarvadaa

Meaning:
1: O Lord Ganesha, of Curved Trunk, Large Body, and with the Brilliance of a Million Suns, 
2: Please Make All my Works Free of Obstacles, Always.